Modernization and upgrades to control equipment can be a pain in the bottom line. That was the issue faced by cardboard manufacturer, Suzano, a global leader in products fabricated from planted eucalyptus forests. Suzano had been operating on control technology from the 1990s and was suffering unplanned downtime due to machine failures and PLC backup requirements. A total control system replacement was needed. But a new production contract on a very tight deadline complicated the demand for upgrade. In order to meet the contract terms, one particular machine would have to run continuously with no failures and the plant could have only a total of three days maximum shutdown and no additional available funds beyond the existing maintenance budget.
Suzano executives were happy to find a new and unique solution from Emerson. The existing machines could be upgraded rather than replaced. The upgrade could be performed within the company’s stringent requirements over a period of time without extensive shutdowns to the whole system. Read the entire story of this well-planned upgrade in this Proven Result.